Signal device



June 10, 1941. WARREN 2,245,453

SIGNAL DEVICE I V Filed April 15, v1940 BYZ: I

Patented June 10, 1941 SIGNAL DEVICE Glenn E. Warren, Honeoye Falls, N. Y., assignor to The A. E. Rittenhouse 00., Inc., Honeoye Falls, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 15, 1940, Serial No. 3%,683

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a signal device, with more particular reference to the general type of construction employing tubular chime elements with electrically operated striker mechanism arranged to cooperate with the chime elements, and it has for its object to afiord a simplified construction that occupies comparaively small space and can be manufactured at a minimum cost.

Heretofore in signal devices using two chime tubes with striker mechanism for sounding either one or both tubes selectively to give a one or two-note signal, it has been necessary to control a solenoid by means of different circuits so as to impart varying movements to its plunger, or where two solenoids have been used, it has been customary to arrange them in the same vertical plane parallel to each other so that their plungers travel perpendicularly to two chime tubes arranged in parallelism, involving a somewhat clumsy and bulky arrangement, due to the fact that considerable length of the chime tubes and considerable area of the supporting plate is required where the solenoids are in parallel relationship, and it is a purpose of the present invention to permit the use of two striker mechanisms arranged so that the solenoids and chime tubes may be brought into close, compact relationship, requiring a minimum area for the disposition of the parts and consequently a housing of minimum size, thus reducing the construction cost and enhancing the appearance and attractiveness of the device, while lending to a great variety of designs.

In a more particular aspect, the invention consists in providing a chime tube with different striking surfaces arranged at an angle to each other to receive strikers carried by plungers of solenoids arranged at an angle to each other and perpendicularly to the striking surfaces on the tube, this preferably being accomplished by providing a plug or solid portion within one end of a chime tube and including a tapered or conical portion extending beyond the end of the tube, thus providing striking surfaces arranged adjacently and at an angle to each other and adapted to receive strikers carried by plungers forming parts of solenoids, likiewise disposed at an angle to each other and perpendicularly to the striking surfaces.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, the novel features striker mechanism constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the end of one chime tube.

The particular construction shown is intended only as illustrative of one practical embodiment of the invention, and referring more particularly to the drawing in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views, I designates the usual base plate or support that is attachable to a wall, and carries the brackets 2 and 3 upon which are mounted the tubular chime elements 4 and 5 respectively, arranged in vertical parallel relation and suitably spaced from each other.

In structures of this kind employing two chime tubes, it has been usual, through the instrumentality of different controlling circuits and switches or push buttons, to provide for striking only one chime tube to give a single note signal and striking both chime tubes successively to give a double note signal, and in the construction shown, both chime tubes 4 and 5 are successively sounded by strikers 6 and 1 carried on a plunger 8 forming part of the electrically controlled unit or solenoid 9. The striker 7 engages and strikes the upper end of the chime tube 5 when the solenoid circuit is closed, and the striker 6 engages and strikes the upper end of the chime tube 4 upon the return movement of the plunger 8 under influence of the spring Hl when the solenoid-controlling circuit is opened, as usual in this class of device. The chime tube 5 is supported by a cord H engaging the bracket 3 and connected to a cylindrical plug, not shown, in the upper end of the chime tube, the latter being always struck on its cylindrical striking surface adjacent to the upper end thereof.

The other chime tube 4 is adapted to be struck either after the chime tube 5, to give a double note signal, or independently to give a single note signal, and in order to accomplish this purpose, there is preferably provided a solid plug or portion l 2 fixedly secured in the upper end of the tube 4 by a drive fit Or otherwise. The body portion of the plug l2, which is preferably of metal, is of cylindrical form to fit closely within the end of the tube 4 opposite its cylindrical striking surface that is engaged by the striker 6, and the plug or solid portion extends beyond the upper end of the tube 4 afiording a conical or tapered striking surface 13 adjacent to the end of the tube and adjacent to the cylindrical striking surface before mentioned that is engaged by the striker 5. The chime tube 4 is supported on the bracket 2 by means of a cord M that is suitably secured to the metal plug Within the end of the tube.

The conical striking surface l3 is engaged by a striker l5 carried by a plunger i5 forming part of the solenoid ll and arranged at an angle to the aforementioned plunger 8 and its solenoid 9, and positioned perpendicularly to the conical striking surface i3. locating the solenoid I? in close relationship to the solenoid 9 so that the strikers 6 and 55 may engage striking surfaces that are adjacently positioned and in close proximity to each other. This enables a compact positioning of the separate electrically operated striker mechanisms on the base I, and requires a minimum sized housing for enclosing the electric mechanism and the upper ends of the chime tubes. l8 designates a stop for limiting return movement of the plunger it under the influence of spring l9.

The electrical controlling circuits, which are not shown, are similar to what are generally employed in such structures, it being understood that when one circuit is closed, the plunger 8 is operated to strike first the chime tube 5 and thereafter the chime tube 4, whereas when the other circuit is closed, only the chime tube 4 is sounded by the engagement of the striker 15 with the conical or tapered striking surface l3 of the plug at the end of the chime tube 4. Thus when two notes are to be sounded on the two chimes, the chime tube 4 is struck upon its outer cylindrical striking surface adjacent to its upper end, whereas when the single note is sounded, the conical striking surface 13 of the solid portion within the chime tube 4 and adjacent to the end thereof is engaged by the striker i5 moving This arrangement permits perpendicularly to the conical surface 13. With this arrangement, the striker l5 and its solenoid ll are located at an angle to the striker 8 and solenoid 9, but in the same vertical plane with the latter, so that both striker mechanisms can be attached to the base plate I in closer relationship to each other than if mounted parallel.

While the invention has been described with respect to the details of construction herein shown, it is not confined to this exact structure, and the application is intended to cover such modifications or departures as may come within the purposes of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a signal device, the combination with a tubular chime element having a cylindrical striking surface and a solenoid plunger movable perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said chime element and provided with a striker engageable with said cylindrical striking surface, of a solid portion secured in one end of the tube opposite to said striking surface and provided with a conical striking surface projecting beyond and adjacent to the end of the tube, said conical surface having its greatest diameter adjacent to the tube and its smallestdiameter at the greatest distance from the tube, and a second solenoid plunger provided with a striker arranged at an angle to the first mentioned striker and movable perpendicularly to said conical striking surface, said solenoid operated strikers being located in substantially the same vertical plane.

2. In a signal device, the combination with a chime tube, of a solenoid plunger carrying a striker engageable with a cylindrical striking surface on the tube, said tube having a conical striking surface adjacent to said cylindrical striking surface, said conical surface having its greatest diameter adjacent to the tube and its smallest diameter at the greatest distance from the tube, and a second solenoid plunger arranged in the same plane with the first named plunger and carrying a striker movable perpendicularly to said conical striking surface and engageable therewith.

GLENN E. WARREN. 

